Car-coupling



R. J. EDWARDS.

GAR COUPLING. No. 363,614. Patented May 24, 1887.

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- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD J. EDIVARDS, OF GALENA, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,614, dated May 24, 1887.

' Application filed March 23, 1887. Serial No. 232.123. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ga lena, in the county of Jo Daviess and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has for its objects to provide a car-coupler in which the parts may be so arranged or set as to be worked automatically to couple the cars when two come together, and which maybe operated from either side of the cars to uncouple the same and set the cars for the next coupling, thus obviating any necessity of entering between the cars either to couple or uncouple the same, whereby the serious accidents attendant upon the common method of coupling are altogether avoided.

The above-mentioned objects I attain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which a Figure 1 represents a sectional view of a draw-head of a car-coupler, showing the coupling devices in the position which they occupy when the cars are coupled. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of a portion of a car, showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 8 represents a longitudinal sectional view of a drawhead, draw-bar, and coupling devices complete; and Fig. 4 shows a detached view of a weighted pawl, in perspective, by means of which the coupling-link is held in a horizontal position in the couplinghead ready for coupling.

The letter A indicates wear of the usual construction,and B one of the draw-bars thereof extending under the same and secured thereto in the ordinary or any convenient manner. The draw-bar at its projecting end is formed with a draw-head, 0, having the usual flaring mouth or opening at the front for the entrance of the coupling-link} lower sides. Through the upper slot the couppins also play through the slot.

The coupling-head is provided with vertical apertures D E at the upperand' ling-pin F works in the usual manner, the said pin being held against loss by means of one or more chains, G. Into the lower aperture, E, extends the upper end of a vertical pin, H, which is shouldered at its lower end and rests in the slot-ted head I of a lever, K, fulcrumed at I to the rear end or other portion of the draw-bar. The drop movement of the lever is arrested or limited by means of the chains M, attached to each side of the draw-head, the said chains, besides holding the lower pin to its seat, serving to permitit to hold its proper relative position to the draw-head, so that it will not get out of line with the aperture in case the draw-head should sag.

The upper end of the lower pin, II, is re cessed at the rear, the recess forming a seat for the lug N at the upper end of the dog or pawl P, which is pivoted in a slot, R, in the lower side of the draw-head. The said pawl or dog is so located that the weight of the upper end keeps its forward end normally forward, so as to drop by its own weight to engage the upper or coupling pin when the same has been elevated and after thelower pin has been dropped.

The letter S indicates a crank-lever extendin g transversely across the car, under the same, and fulcrumed in bearingsT at each side thereof. The saidlever isprovided with a U-shaped crank-arm at its center,in which thelever rests, and by which it is raised or dropped. The said lever is provided at each end with operating-arms V, by means of which it may be worked to operate the coupling devices.

The letter W indicates a drop-pawl, which is slotted, so as to permit the pawl or dog to play freely through it. The upper and lower The forward end of the said pawl Vis weighted and rounded and beveled, as indicated, so as to permit the entering coupling-link to throw it automatically upward. This pawl is intended to hold the link in horizontal position, for coupling by simply bearing down upon it with its own weight. 7

The operation of my invention is as follows: When set for coupling, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the upper pin being held by the dog or pawl in position to be dropped through the link to secure it. Upon entering the draw-head the link forces back the dog and releases and drops the upper or coupling pin through the link, so as to hold it. To uncouple, the crank-lever is operated from either side, so as to throw the lower pin upward. The recess in said pin first engages the lug on the dog or pawl, and then lifts the upper or coupling pin until the lug sets under the lower end of the coupling-pin, holding it up into position to be dropped. The lower pin is then released; dropping by its own weight out of the way. The link is then inserted, being held in the head in a horizontal position by means of the dog or pawl. \Vhen the cars come together, the dog or pawl is tripped by the link releasing the upper pin so as to drop through said link. To nnconple the cars, the crank-lever is operated from either side so as to raise the upper or coupling pin and set the parts for the next coupling.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

- 1. The combination, with the draw-head of a car-coupler, of the upper and lower pins working in the vertical apertures ofsaid heads, and the pivoted dog adapted to engage the lower end of the upper pin and hold it in position for engaging the link when the same strikes the dog and throws it backward, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the draw-head, of the upper and lower pins, the lever to which the latter is connected, the cranklever for operating the same, and the engaging and disengaging pawl or dog, whereby the couplingpins are adjusted, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the draw-head and its lower pin, of the lever by which it is actuated, and the chains whereby the said lever and pin are held in proper relation to the drawhead in case of sagging, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the upper and lower pins and the draw-head, of the dog or lever having a lug on its forward end, the lower pin having its upper end recessed to engage the lug, and the upper couplingpin adapted to operate in conjunction with each other, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD J. EDWARDS.

\Vitnesses:

H; S. Ceooks, J A0013 FAwoE'r'r. 

